Informational Text
What is the purpose of informational text?
To reveal information about our physical and social worlds
Informational book use ______ text structures to present and explain info.
expository
(1) What is a biography?
(2) What is an autobiography?
(1) Tells a true story of somebody's life, written by somebody else
(2) Tells a true story of somebody's life, written by that person
What is the ultimate goal of reading in social studies?
Comprehension
What is the main purpose of persuasive writing?
To persuade: express an opinion and sway others to agree
What benefits does a social studies textbook offer?
Provides organized content & concise lessons, and recommends instructional strategies
Expository text structures aid in _______ and _______ of content.
comprehension; retention
How can using newspapers be helpful to students?
Improving reading skills and acquiring important knowledge/insight
Describe the 3 levels of social studies comprehension.
(1) Literal - understanding subject matter
(2) Inferential - reading "between the lines"
(3) Critical - forming judgments/conclusions
Persuasive writing conveys the author's __________.
opinions/biases
What do those who oppose textbooks believe?
Textbooks are too unimaginative, heavy on facts, bland vocab
There are 5 categories for expository text structures. Name and describe two of them.
- Description: describes a topic's attributes
- Sequence: uses numbers or chronological order
- Compare/Contrast: events/objects = alike or different
- Problem/Solution: presents a problem and offers solutions
What are the ABCs of a good hard news story?
Accuracy - who, what, when, where, why, how
Brevity - get right to the point
Clarity - factual, direct
What does close reading require students to do?
What are the three parts of a persuasive piece?
(1) Introductory opinion statement
(2) Body of facts (supportive evidence)
(3) Conclusion that reiterates opinion and appeals to reader
How do informational books help students learn difficult/complex concepts?
- Stimulate curiosity through appealing format
- Illustrations provide clarification
Name the three steps to teach expository text structure to students.
(1) Introduce an organizational pattern.
(2) Give students opportunity to work on text.
(3) Invite students to write using the structure.
Why should you share period newspapers with students?
- Offer insight into the past
- Contain a wealth of information
What should be done during a first reading? During subsequent readings?
- First reading: introduce text, establish a purpose, model, scaffold instruction, ask questions
-Subsequent readings: reread text, define vocab, distinguishing fact from opinion, analyze cause-effect relationships, describe people/place/events, determine author's purpose
How do facts differ from opinions?
Facts = accurate, backed by evidence
Opinions = personal views/beliefs, unsubstantiated
(1) True or False: Research has found that children prefer informational books to storybooks.
(2) True or False: Informational text is often found in 1st-3rd grade classrooms.
(1) True
(2) False
(1) What is the goal of informational writing?
(2) Informational _____ can be used as models for informational _____.
(1) to explain, describe, define, clarify, or give directions
(2) books; writing
What may a newspaper contain that could help teach students about life in the past?
- Reports/info from eyewitnesses
Describe the three steps of directed reading (before, during, and after). How does the teacher serve as a guide?
- Before: activate student thinking, preteach vocab, connect to prior knowledge, make predictions, establish a purpose
-During: visualizing, determining importance, asking questions, connecting, attacking new words\
-After: discussion, retelling, graphic organizers, follow-up activities
Name and describe one persuasive writing opportunity.
- Advertisements - communication by businesses to inform customers about goods/services and convince them to buy
- Political cartoons - carry serious messages to influence reader's opinion
- Editorials - use words instead of illustrations to express POV